Pittsburgh Pirates Preliminary Prospect List

by John Sickels on Jan 2, 2026 2:15 PM EST

38 below the fold...

Pittsburgh Pirates         38 players

Tim Alderson               RHP
Stetson Allie              RHP
Nate Baker                 LHP
Victor Black               RHP
Colton Cain                LHP
Exicardo Cayonez           OF
Evan Chambers              OF
Jarek Cunningham           2B
Matt Curry                 1B
Chase D'Arnaud             SS
Zack Dodson                LHP
Brian Friday               INF
Eric Fryer                 C
Robbie Grossman            OF
Matt Hague                 1B
Luis Heredia               RHP
Brock Holt                 SS
Jared Hughes               RHP
Phillip Irwin              RHP
Nick Kingham               RHP
Andrew Lambo               OF
Quincy Latimore            OF
Jeff Locke                 LHP
Kyle McPherson            RHP
Quinton Miller             RHP
Diego Moreno               RHP
Bryan Morris               RHP
Rudy Owens                 LHP
Brooks Pounders            RHP
Alex Presley               OF
Mel Rojas Jr               OF
Tony Sanchez               C
Adalberto Santos           OF
Jameson Taillon            RHP
Zach Von Rosenberg         RHP
Tyler Waldron              RHP
Tony Watson                LHP
Justin Wilson              LHP

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Comments

Jared Hughes

There are a few guys I would put ahead of Jared Hughes, he is the only guy listed that I don’t think deserves top 40 consideration, Jorge Bishop, Eric Avila, Ramon Cabrera, Jeff Inman, Brett Lorin, Aaron Pribanic, Ryan Hafner, Jared Lakind to name a few.

The most glaring omission though has to be Dan Moskos, sure he will likely never live up to his draft position, but I think he definitely has some good years out of the pen. Lefties with his slider fastball combo don’t grow on trees/

by Drufan11 on Jan 2, 2026 2:30 PM EST reply actions

I'd like Lakind a lot more if he was on the mound

I’ll +1 Hafner though

http://bullpenbanter.com/

by Jeff Reese on Jan 2, 2026 2:32 PM EST up reply actions

hughes etc

I could see cutting hughes for moskos.

by John Sickels on Jan 2, 2026 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

Hughes is terrible...

I could easily see cutting Hughes for any of the guys he mentioned.

ETHAN MARTIN!!!!

by joegonzo on Jan 2, 2026 3:15 PM EST up reply actions

Sure I'm biased

But I think the buccos’ system looks pretty deep, it has come a long way in three years.

by Drufan11 on Jan 2, 2026 2:32 PM EST reply actions

It's deep, but it's missing quality prospects

I see only three guys above B- (Taillon, Allie & Sanchez)

http://bullpenbanter.com/

by Jeff Reese on Jan 2, 2026 2:34 PM EST up reply actions

Sure

I think an argument could be made for a few more, but I get your point. I think there are several players that could have breakout seasons and rank higher one year from now. That’s one nice thing about depth, and oh yeah players with tools…two things pirates fans have been unfamiliar with

by Drufan11 on Jan 2, 2026 2:48 PM EST up reply actions

Just curious

You aren’t high on any one of the combination of Morris, Locke, Owens or Heredia to put one of them higher than a B-?

Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Jan 2, 2026 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

No

I need to see some pro scouting on Heredia to go higher than B- on him (even that is stronger than I give more IFAs), and the rest are back-of-the-rotation/reliever types.

http://bullpenbanter.com/

by Jeff Reese on Jan 2, 2026 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

Really back of the rotation guys?

I think with the law of averages, between the 4 of them (although I feel Wilson is on a lower level) one of those guys will end up as a solid 2-3 for a multi-year period. I’m probably being a bit optimistic though.

Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Jan 2, 2026 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

I agree most are...

back end types, but I think Morris has a decent chance to be a #3 starter and I ave him at a straight B grade. He has the stuff, he just needs a little more work.

ETHAN MARTIN!!!!

by joegonzo on Jan 2, 2026 3:16 PM EST up reply actions

There's also the fact that

they took a pretty big graduation hit in the last year and a half with McCutchen, Tabata, Walker, and Pedro coming up.

by NastyNate82 on Jan 2, 2026 10:45 PM EST up reply actions

Indeed

They’ve graduated some talent.

http://bullpenbanter.com/

by Jeff Reese on Jan 2, 2026 11:08 PM EST up reply actions

To echo other people's sentiment

The system is fairly deep (obviously other system’s are deeper) but is somewhat lacking on elite top-end talent. The nice thing is the Pirates org. overall has good young positional players in the majors and four solid pitching prospects near the the majors in Morris, Locke, Wilson, and Owens.

In a year the system should look much better since almost no one will graduate (Alex Presley off the top of my head) and they should add talent in the draft (Rendon?) and (hopefully) alot of the high upside talent will progress well (ZVR, Cain, Kingham, Mel Rojas, Miller etc).

Pitching depth is obviously the strength and there is a glaring absence of polished bats in the system (at least any who could be legitimate contributors at the major league level).

Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Jan 2, 2026 2:56 PM EST reply actions

Oh and as far as admissions etc.

Moskos has to get a nod over guys like Hughes and A. Santos. I like Bishop, Avila, or Lakind to replace the other guy.

Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Jan 2, 2026 3:06 PM EST reply actions

Guys like...

Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison are much more deserving than guys like Santos, Hughes, Fryer, and Alderson. Alderson at this point doesn’t crack my top 40.

ETHAN MARTIN!!!!

by joegonzo on Jan 2, 2026 3:19 PM EST reply actions

yeah but

Yeah but people ask me about alderson all the time….I think I need to weigh in.

I can see cutting Santos and Fryer due to age/competition reasons, although I think both have a chance to do something eventually.

by John Sickels on Jan 2, 2026 3:36 PM EST up reply actions

That makes a lot of sense...

on Alderson needing at least something said about him. I would then put him as the last guy. Also, I agree Santos and Fryer could potentialy be back ups one day, but Mercer and Harrison at least have some chance at starting.

ETHAN MARTIN!!!!

by joegonzo on Jan 2, 2026 4:05 PM EST up reply actions

Moskos?

Exactly how far has he fallen? Was it physical or mental - a la Dontrelle?

by Ramakis34 on Jan 2, 2026 4:28 PM EST reply actions

Frankly, he doesn't seem to have fallen terribly far at all.

The problem is that he never really was a very high-ceiling talent.

Hey, an out is an out - unless you're Mario, in which case it's probably two outs. -UtesFan89

Hard work always beats talent if talent doesn't work hard.

Hey, if you’re gonna call us birds you might as well call us chickens. -Leafer87

ARE YOU F#$%ING KIDDING ME!!!! ADAMS!!! JESUS TAPDANCING CHRIST YOU HAD 24 SQUARE FEET AND YOU MISSED IT ALL!! - OlenWhitaker

by wg1of5 on Jan 2, 2026 9:05 PM EST up reply actions

+1

Still see him as a potential set-up guy. The whole starting pitching thing was never really viable.

http://bullpenbanter.com/

by Jeff Reese on Jan 2, 2026 9:07 PM EST up reply actions

Some thoughts

Moskos for Hughes has already been mentioned. I would probably add Eric Avila for Adalberto Santos.
I would also probably drop Brooks Pounders, the weight issue is a concern to me. In his place I would probably add Trent Stevenson. He had a very meh season at State College, but he’s super projectable since he’s 6’6" and 175 pounds and throwing in the low 90’s last I heard.

by pittpanther on Jan 2, 2026 4:36 PM EST reply actions

Santos isn't a prospect in my mind

More of an organizational guy. Also, Starling Marte is not on the list, I assume that’s just an oversight? I would probably drop Jeff Inman as well, I want to like the guy but he’s done nothing so far. Would add Moskos and Josh Harrison.

by maguro on Jan 2, 2026 4:46 PM EST reply actions

Good catch on Marte

http://bullpenbanter.com/

by Jeff Reese on Jan 2, 2026 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

marte

Yeah, i forgot about him. I’m already up to 40, have to cut someone. Sigh.

by John Sickels on Jan 2, 2026 6:03 PM EST up reply actions

cuts

cutting tyler waldron for starling marte. Pounders out for Stevenson

by John Sickels on Jan 2, 2026 6:04 PM EST up reply actions

Why Stevenson instead of Pounders?

Just curious. They seem so similar, other than the fact that Pounders is fat and Stevenson is skinny.

by maguro on Jan 2, 2026 6:26 PM EST up reply actions

Stevensen has more upside in his arm

That and Jimmy Anderson made me dislike fat pitchers:

http://bullpenbanter.com/

by Jeff Reese on Jan 2, 2026 6:43 PM EST up reply actions

Dont forget...

David Wells though.

ETHAN MARTIN!!!!

by joegonzo on Jan 2, 2026 8:08 PM EST up reply actions

But you've got to give him some points for having a glowing hand

by nivarsity on Jan 2, 2026 8:10 PM EST up reply actions

santos is a good hitter i saw him in state collage & he was killing the ball he was old for the level but he may surprise people this year

by crazy nick on Jan 4, 2026 4:23 AM EST up reply actions

Starling Marte has to be on the list.

To Add:
Starling Marte
Daniel Moskos
Trent Stevenson

To Delete:
Eric Fryer
Adelberto Santos
Brooks Pounders

by Kosstic518 on Jan 2, 2026 5:36 PM EST reply actions

He already cut...

Waldron for Marte and I believe he cut Hughes for Moskos. I would replace them in this with Harrison and Mercer being added and Santos and Fryer being cut.

ETHAN MARTIN!!!!

by joegonzo on Jan 2, 2026 8:10 PM EST up reply actions